Chapter 1789: Unfathomable Powers of Gods and Ghosts

He Lingchuan observed the pedestrian density on the streets, as well as the facilities and houses within the city. Based on this, he reasonably deduced that the resident population should exceed 200,000—a basic skill for a businessman.

It seemed the population of the real world was more than six or seven times that of the Illusion Realm.

The expressions of the Illusion Sect disciples shifted from initial tension, then surprise, to their current state of bewilderment. They could neither imagine nor comprehend that beneath their feet, or rather, at the bottom of Kidney Lake, such a vast world existed, with ordinary people living in peace and prosperity on an identical map.

To illustrate this situation, He Lingchuan pinched a copper coin between his index and middle fingers and flicked it in front of Dong Rui, saying, "It's like the two sides of this coin."

The Illusion Sect disciples originally lived on one side, while the people of the real world lived on the other. The two sides did not intersect or interfere with each other—

Until the invasion by the Celestial Palace shattered this balance.

"The boundary between the two sides of this coin is the coin itself," He Lingchuan continued, asking Dong Rui, "Then where is the boundary between the real and the illusionary realms?"

Dong Rui first ruled out an obvious answer: "Since you're asking it like that, it's definitely not Kidney Lake, right?"

At that moment, a disciple couldn't help but ask Elder Liu, "Grand-uncle, does this world also have sects?"

If so, what did that make them, who had come from the Illusion Realm?

Elder Liu's answer, in He Lingchuan's estimation, was perfectly apt: "This world also has your Patriarch!"

Indeed, both worlds existing in the Upside-Down Sea revered True Master Qianhuan.

Dong Rui mumbled offhandedly, "So, is True Master Qianhuan the boundary between these two worlds?"

He Lingchuan's eyes flickered, and he quickly glanced at him.

It was an unwitting remark, but He Lingchuan took note.

Perhaps it had rained a few days prior, as there were many puddles in the fields. As the group passed by a pond, someone inadvertently looked down and gasped, "The reflection! Look at the reflection!"

Everyone looked at their reflections in the water. The people were the same, their faces unchanged, but their clothing had transformed. What were originally loose robes with wide sleeves now appeared as light armor and tight-fitting tunics in the reflection.

They looked at each other, seeing their companions still in their sect robes, but then looked into the water again and saw armored guard uniforms.

"No wonder that farmer asked if we were the guards from Sunwheel City," Wanqiu Feng realized suddenly. "So that's how we appear in their eyes."

Madam Zhu suddenly said, "In ancient times, we called the sun 'Sunwheel' and the moon 'Wisdom Lamp'."

Is that why there's the incantation, "Wisdom Lamp illuminates the Illusion Sea?"

So, "Sunwheel" corresponds to the real world? He Lingchuan looked up at the sky, seeing bright sunshine and not a cloud in sight.

Elder Liu explained, "Since we suddenly entered the real world, the Immortal Venerable had to arrange suitable identities for us."

The Illusion Sect disciples listened in silence.

It was the same island, the same terrain, the same mountains and forests, yet it was no longer their homeland.

Every blade of grass and every tree felt so familiar, yet they had entered this place as trespassers, even needing to falsify their identities.

Of course, He Lingchuan and his companions didn't feel this way; they were genuine outsiders.

Ahead was an open threshing ground. Along the edge of the ground were several rows of shelves, normally used for large sieves, bamboo strips, and other farm tools. But now, there were several large baskets. Inside the baskets were not grains or food, but a large pile of masks.

These masks were made of wood or bamboo, painted in various colors like red, orange, yellow, blue, black, and white. Their only commonality was their grotesque and fierce appearance.

They were either ghost faces or fierce beasts, with horns or fangs, some smiling, some scowling, looking much like Nuo opera masks.

Elder Liu walked over, casually picked up a mask, and put it on his face. "Everyone, come and get one. These masks can disguise our appearance, making it impossible for our pursuers to find us."

This single action alone led He Lingchuan to conclude that Elder Liu was in contact with Qianhuan; otherwise, how would he know these masks were prepared for them?

Something interesting happened: after being put on, the mask only remained for about ten breaths before disappearing.

To everyone's eyes, Elder Liu still had his kindly old face.

However, Elder Liu casually summoned a water mirror and stood before it.

What was reflected in the mirror was not a human, but clearly a green-faced, fanged fiend, clad in guard armor.

Wanqiu Feng watched, and seemed to grasp something. "In the eyes of the people of this realm, we are already automatically disguised; now, by wearing these masks, we also have a disguise for our pursuers."

Elder Liu nodded. "Precisely."

Dong Rui, always full of curiosity, asked, "Why ghost masks? Wouldn't us running around as so many fiends be even more conspicuous?"

Elder Liu replied cryptically, "You'll understand soon enough."

So, He Lingchuan and his companions, along with the Illusion Sect disciples, went to pick out and wear masks. Even Ghost Ape and Lingguang chose two masks each and put them on.

Similarly, the masks disappeared as soon as they were put on. To each other's eyes, they still looked like themselves, but in the mirror, they appeared as demonic entities.

This indicated that their outward appearance had indeed changed.

Elder Liu then said, "From now on, in the eyes of any unwelcome outsiders in this realm, we will appear as fiends. Let's go."

The group continued north along the mountain path.

He Lingchuan had another concern: "Where are the elders who previously entered Kidney Lake and were trapped in the real world?"

They were also four of Qianhuan's top combatants, and particularly valuable now.

Elder Liu simply replied, "After crossing the lake before, they couldn't return. They've been living in Sunwheel City and will soon rejoin us."

So they were all still alive. For the Illusion Sect at this moment, they were four powerful reinforcements! "Then what about the envoys sent by Spirit Mountain earlier?"

"That, I'm not sure about," Elder Liu admitted, adding, "They didn't have proper identities when they entered, so I'm afraid..."

He understood: they would likely encounter unforeseen dangers here.

Dong Rui lightly coughed. "Since we've arrived in the real world, can we leave the Upside-Down Sea?"

Originally, they were trapped in the illusion and couldn't leave; now that Qianhuan had awakened and everyone had returned to the real world, the path to the outside should, logically, be clear.

"Of course you can," Elder Liu nodded, then quietly told He Lingchuan, "However, Miaozhantian will soon cross the lake. It's too dangerous to go out to sea right now; you could easily be capsized. It's better to stay on land and avoid trouble."

His implication was that under Qianhuan's protection, their chances of survival were greater.

"Once matters here are resolved, you are, of course, free to leave."

Previously, in the Illusion Realm, the Illusion Sect elders had used the Haoyuan Golden Mirror to battle the Celestial Palace, overturning two or three of their ships in an instant. Thinking about it this way, the sea seemed even more perilous.

Dong Rui and the others looked at He Lingchuan, who simply extended his index and middle fingers and lightly waved them twice in front of his chest. This meant:

Wait and see.

Dong Rui's question was merely a probing attempt. But He Lingchuan knew instinctively that True Master Qianhuan would never let him leave so easily.

At this point, Dong Rui made a few gestures to He Lingchuan, asking him why True Master Qianhuan had brought the Celestial Palace army into Kidney Lake.

He Lingchuan smiled. "You should have asked that question a long time ago."

Madam Zhu's telepathic message reached their ears: "Is that even a question? There's only one reason: Qianhuan believes she has an advantage fighting here!"

If it were her, she would also choose the most advantageous location before initiating a fight.

Madam Zhu then asked He Lingchuan, "Do you think these Immortals of the Illusion Sect knew beforehand that another real Silver Pearl Island existed at the bottom of Kidney Lake?"

"Xiao Wencheng might have known a little, but as for the other Immortals—" He Lingchuan shook his head. "The most terrifying thing is that neither the mortals nor the Immortals there knew when they had gone to the Illusion Realm or remained in it."

This alone showed Qianhuan's unfathomable supernatural abilities.

Above Immortals, there was indeed another level of power.

However, if even the Grand Immortals who had followed Qianhuan for over two millennia were ignorant of this, did it suggest that Qianhuan might not have previously possessed or revealed such power?

Both Xiao Wencheng and Elder Liu, in their conversations with He Lingchuan, conveyed a clear implication: although True Master Qianhuan had been in seclusion for over 150 years, as the saying goes, "no sun and moon in the mountains," and time in a cave dwelling often passes unchangingly. The true changes within the Upside-Down Sea actually began sixty years ago.

What happened sixty years ago? As far as He Lingchuan knew, True Master Qianhuan had sent out an avatar to retrieve the Great Divination Heavenly Pearl from Yao State, and from that point, had entered a long seclusion that continued to this day.

Could True Master Qianhuan's ability to orchestrate so many tricks within the Upside-Down Sea be related to the Great Divination Heavenly Pearl he had refined?

"If even Master Xiao and Elder Liu are unclear about the true situation—" He Lingchuan mused, "then it seems Miaozhantian's assessment of this old adversary's current power might be inaccurate."

Miaozhantian was likely completely unaware of Qianhuan's progress since acquiring the Great Divination Heavenly Pearl.

For a confrontation of this magnitude, such an information discrepancy was terrifying.

"Perhaps this is also a major reliance in True Master Qianhuan's meticulous plan."

At that moment, a disciple asked Elder Liu, "Grand-uncle, where are we going now?"

Elder Liu solemnly replied, "To find the Immortal Venerable."

And also to get away from Kidney Lake.

The Celestial Palace army had also crossed Kidney Lake.

Being in the lake, without solid footing in any direction, was the most vulnerable time. So, Bai Ziqian first dispatched the avian demons and master cultivators to patrol the shores and escort the main force.

However, it turned out his worries were somewhat excessive. The entire process of the Celestial Palace army crossing the lake was very smooth, with virtually no ambushes.

There was no one visible in the sky or on the shore; apart from the wind rustling the trees, everything was utterly silent.

Although the sun was shining brightly, the lakeside was still damp, and white mist drifted through the forest, adding a touch of etherealness to the lake scenery.

However, no one was in the mood to appreciate the view. The thicker the mist, the worse the visibility.

The grey parrot also emerged from the water, landing on Bai Ziqian's shoulder and shaking off water droplets from its feathers. "Defeated enemies are not worth mentioning for their bravery."

Before entering the lake, the Illusion Sect's retreat had been rather ignominious; they had easily captured and killed over a hundred of their members.